Every year Ionia County drivers are involved in thousands of accidents, and a number of those occur at intersections - mainly the same intersections each year.

From 2007 to 2011, the largest percentage of accidents that occurred at county intersections occurred along the M-66 corridor in or near the Ionia city limits, according to data collected from the Michigan Traffic Crash Facts Website. The accident prone intersections include M-66 and Tuttle Road, M-66 and Main Street, M-66 and Washington Street, and the two intersections where M-66 and M-21 meet. Honorable mentions include the intersections of M-66 and David Highway and M-66 and Riverside Drive.

From 2007 to 2011, the general number of accidents in Ionia County have decreased from 2,500 to 1,900. Within those years, 1,536 accidents occurred in intersections across Ionia County, resulting in 322 injuries and eight fatalities.

Michigan State Police Trooper Keith Disselkoen said intersections are far more dangerous than any other area on a roadway because of a number of factors. He said intersections have changing dynamics at all times, including pedestrians, vehicles traveling in multiple directions and at different speeds, and the time frame of the traffic light. On top of those factors, Disselkoen added, drivers could be eating, talking or texting on their cell phone or have other distractions while at the location.

"People have enough to divide their attention around an intersection before including driving distractions," said Disselkoen.

The high level of car accidents along M-66, he added, is typically due to population density, high traffic volume during rush hour and driver impatience to make a turn or beat a red light. Motorists who are not used to an intersection's "only lanes" or other rules can also run the risk of causing a crash, Disselkoen said.

Members of the Ionia County Road Commission (ICRC) have a portion of the responsibility to keeping the roadways and intersections safe, and determine necessary changes by becoming aware of dangerous intersections from the public, their own employees or by reviewing accident statistics.

ICRC Managing Director Dorothy Pohl said accident statistics can tell them the type of accident that occurred at an intersection and then they try to consider ways to fix the problem, if there are any.

"We try to go with the lowest cost and least change first and then evaluate it," said Pohl.

She said they take into consideration the speed limit, traffic count, sight distances in every direction and what types of prevention already is in place before making a change. Alterations include trimming or removing trees that block road views, adding road signs or road warning signs, the addition of rumble strips and more, which can cost from a couple thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, Pohl said.

"In some cases, we've rebuilt intersections," she added, which can cost up to a few hundred thousand dollars even with the help of grant funding.

Page 2 of 2 - Reviews of the alterations follow, and if needed, the ICRC will take additional steps to make sure the changes increase safety. During some projects, such as the M-66 and David Highway intersection, the ICRC will partner with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) because M-66 is a state roadway.

In addition, Pohl said during the winter season ICRC employees will place additional salt in intersections to make sure they are clear of ice.

He said when roadways or intersections do need to be altered for safety purposes, they can help with smaller changes like lighting, pavement markings or larger changes such as roundabouts and "Michigan left turns." Curvature and elevation changes are the most difficult and most expensive.

Each intersection is different, Richard said, and motorists need to adjust to those differences.

Apart from city locations, intersections in rural areas can prove to be hazardous as well. Many times drivers ignore stop signs or believe each intersection is a four-way stop. Motorists also tend to drive at higher rates of speed, Disselkoen said.

"Drivers should raise their alertness level at all intersections and be ready for anything," he added.

The 2012 motor vehicle accident statistics will be available this spring.